A wise person is someone who has everything figured out, and a source of advice for making good decisions. Sirach in today’s First Reading reminds us that wisdom itself comes from God, and it abounds throughout creation to help us to make good decisions. The Lord didn’t just create everything with intelligence; something can have an ingenious design and function, yet be horrible in its uses. The Lord created things with wisdom: not just designed well, but reflecting a good purpose.
The Lord encourages us not only to use things correctly, but wisely. Wisdom is drawing from the Lord’s “blueprint” in order to be, to make, or to do something in harmony with his greater purpose. Sirach today teaches that the Lord lavishes wisdom upon his friends. Being at odds with the Lord is foolish, and the foolish close themselves off from wisdom.
The Lord’s friends have an edge: Jesus Christ is not only wise, but the Wisdom of God, and the Holy Spirit still pours out wisdom on those who seek it. Let’s ask Our Lord today to reconnect us with his wise blueprint for creation.
Readings: Sirach 1:1–10; Psalm 93:1–2, 5; Mark 9:14–29. See also 7th Week of Ordinary Time, Monday, Year II and 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.